Volleyball Rules 101

OVERVIEW

The objective is to avoid letting the ball hit your side of the net. If the ball does hit your side, the point is over and one point is awarded to the other team.

BALL PLAY

Each team is allowed a maximum of three contacts before it must send the ball back over the net.

No player can hit the ball twice in succession.

A player may not cause the ball to come to a rest during contact

A ball is in when it contacts the ground within the playing court or a boundary line.

The ball is out when it contacts the ground completely outside of the playing court.

SCORING

Rally – A point is awarded when play stops at the end of each rally.

Matches are played the best 2 out of 3.

Two games are played to 21. In the event of a tie, a game 3 is played to 15. Must win the game by 2 points.

Teams switch court sides on multiples of 7 (the combined score of the game).

SERVING

If the serving team wins the rally or a replay is directed, the player who served the previous rally serves again. If the serving team loses the rally, the next server on the receiving team serves the ball.

The responsibility for serving alternates between the two teammates.
A serve that touches the net but still makes it over is called a “let serve” and is playable.

NET PLAY

While blocking, a player may touch the ball beyond the net provided they do not interfere with the opponent’s plat, before or during the hit.

A player is permitted to pass her hand(s) beyond the net after a hit, provided that the contact was made within her team’s playing space.

Players may partially or completely cross the center line below the net or outside the poles either before, during or after a legal play of the ball provided that this does not interfere with the opponent’s play.

TERMS

ACE – A serve that is not passable and results immediately in a point.

ATTACK – The offensive action of hitting the ball. The attempt by one team to terminate the play by hitting the ball to the floor on the opponent’s side.

BLOCK – A defensive play by one or more players meant to deflect a spiked ball back to the hitter’s court. It may be a combination of one, two or three players jumping in front of the opposing spiker and contacting the spiked ball with the hands.

BUMP – a common term for forearm passing.

CENTER LINE – The boundary that runs directly under the net and divides the court into two equal halves.

CUT SHOT – A spike from the hitter’s strong side that travels at a sharp angle across the net.

DIG – Passing a spiked or rapidly hit ball. Slang for the art of passing an attacked ball close to the floor.

KILL – An attack that results in an immediate point or side out.

PANCAKE – A one-handed defensive technique where the hand is extended and the palm is slid along the floor as the player dives or extension rolls, and timed so that the ball bounces off the back of the hand.

SERVE – One of the six basic skills; used to put the ball into play. It is the only skill controlled exclusively by one player.

SERVER – The player who puts the ball into play.

SET – The tactical skill in which a ball is directed to a point where a player can spike it into the opponent’s court.

SETTER – the player who has the 2nd of 3 contacts of the ball who “sets” the ball with an “Overhand Pass” for a teammate to hit. The setter normally runs the offense.

SIDE OUT – Occurs when the receiving team successfully puts the ball away against the serving team, or when the serving team commits an unforced error, and the receiving team thus gains the right to serve.

SPIKE – Also hit or attack. A ball contacted with force by a player on the offensive team who intends to terminate the ball on the opponent’s floor or off the opponent’s blocker.

Resources

The NVL Mission

Established in 2010, the NVL is a professional beach volleyball league built by players, for all players, united in one mission: to create a sustainable future for pro beach volleyball in the United States.